News Archives

Majority in House Backs Land Conservation Incentive Bill

June 15, 2011 - Michigan congressmen/women are showing great support for the Conservation Easement Incentive Act, H.R. 1964, a bill that is critical for the protection of millions of acres of the nation’s agricultural lands, forests, and natural areas, including hundreds of thousands in Michigan, that support the economy, health and cultural fabric of our communities. Read More

Undiscovered Traverse City

June 2, 2011 - Glen Chown and the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy are polishing up little-known gems of the shoreline in East Bay, and pioneering the way to combine environmental protection with new business opportunities. Read More

Chris Bunch takes the reins as executive director of Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy

May 9, 2011 - The conservation ethic of Christopher C. Bunch reaches back to childhood. Vacation days canoeing, fishing, hunting, and exploring the woods of his great grandfather’s 160 acre property in west Michigan gave him a passion for the land which shaped his career. And it accounts for the excitement he brings to his new job as executive director of the Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy. Read More

Michigan Conservancies Reach Milestones

April 22, 2011 - Legacy Land Conservancy, North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy, Land Conservancy of West Michigan,Little Traverse Conservancy, and the Michigan Nature Association have each recently reached important milestones. Read More

Little Traverse Conservancy Master's Scholarship Opportunity at Michigan State University

April 22, 2011 - An endowed a scholarship at Michigan State University may be of interest to graduate students interested in working in the land conservation field.  Read More

Michigan Land Conservancies Collectively Protect 548,318 Acres of Land

March 28, 2011 - The Heart of the Lakes Annual Acres Protected Survey found that Heart of the Lakes member land conservancies collectively protected 548,318 acres of Michigan land as of December 31, 2010. Read More

2011 Michigan Land and Prosperity Summit

March 18, 2011 - On April 8, 2011, the Michigan Land & Prosperity Summit will focus on “Moving Michigan Forward: Partnerships, Places and Progress” and provide an opportunity for some of our leaders to share their strategies and expertise on a variety of topics. Read More

Agriculture's Conference on the Environment

January 27, 2011 - Changing Environmental Regulations, Farm Policy, Building Consumer Trust and Maximizing Profitability are all challenges that today's farmers have to manage. Join your fellow producers to get practical solutions for dealing with these challenges at the 2011 Agriculture's Conference on the Environment. Read More

Funding Opportunity - Coastal and Estuarine Land Acquisition

January 26, 2011 - The Michigan Coastal Management Program (MCMP) within the Office of the Great Lakes (OGL), Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE), is pleased to announce the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for coastal land acquisition projects (fee simple interest or conservation easement) that further the objectives of Michigan’s Draft Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program. Read More

Sale of Family Farm Will Protect Farms in Michigan

January 26, 2011 - Thanks to the generosity and legacy of Owen and Ellen Love, a new revolving loan fund has been established by the American Farmland Trust to assist in the permanent protection of farmland in the state of Michigan. The fund will be made available to local units of government and to land conservancies. Read More

Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation Awards $25,000 to Heart of the Lakes

December 20, 2010 - Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy is pleased to announce the award of $25,000 from the Fred A. and Barbra M. Erb Family Foundation, which will support our ACE program. Read More

Heart of the Lakes Welcomes New Board Members

December 13, 2010 - Heart of the Lakes is pleased to welcome three new members to our board of directors: Frank Aiello, Dan Cline, and Tim Ervin. Read More

Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board Recommends 117 Development and Acquisitions Project

December 1, 2010 - The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) Board of Trustees today recommended to Governor Jennifer M. Granholm that 117 recreation projects and land acquisitions totaling $102,098,400 be funded in 2011. Read More

Snyder to re-split DNR, DEQ in his administration

November 30, 2010 - Gov.-elect Rick Snyder plans to re-split the departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources, returning them to separate agencies with their own directors. Snyder will formally announce the change during an afternoon news conference. He also plans to introduce the new directors. Read More

USDA Announces Funding for Farmland Preservation Organizations

November 22, 2010 - The USDA is currently accepting applications for matching funds to preserve farmland from conversion to non-agricultural use. Read More

Michigan Conservancies Honored at National Land Trust Conference

October 26, 2010 - Heart of the Lakes members, the South West Michigan Land Conservancy and the Little Forks Land Conservancy were given special recognition earlier this month at the Land Trust Alliance’s national conference. Read More

SW Michigan Land Conservancy Receives Land Trust Excellence Award

October 3, 2010 - Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC) has been presented with a national conservation award for its pioneering work in the land trust field in developing and implementing conservation management plans for important natural areas and setting the example for effective collaboration in conservation. Read More

Michigan Recreation Passport Goes on Sale Oct. 1

September 30, 2010 - The Michigan Recreation Passport will be available starting Oct. 1 at Secretary of State offices around the state, giving motorists the opportunity to invest in Michigan’s great outdoors and protect natural resources. Read More

HOL Members Recieve DNRE Water Quality Grants

September 23, 2010 - In August, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE) announced the award of 14 water quality grants totaling $3.9 million that will permanently protect and restore rivers and wetlands and support watershed planning. Read More

Fracking Regulations Vary Widely from State to State

August 31, 2010 - Prompted by upgrades in drilling technology and immense reserves of natural gas contained in carbon-rich shales that lies miles deep, a boom in natural gas development is well underway across the United States that is also causing states to scramble to review their drilling regulations and cleanup requirements. Read More

Little Forks Conservancy Achieves National Accreditation

August 12, 2010 - Heart of the Lakes member, The Little Forks Conservancy, a nonprofit land conservancy based in Midland, is Michigan’s newest accredited land conservancy. Read More

Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy is Warren Parks Watchman

June 30, 2010 - A judge on Tuesday ruled that the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy is qualified to serve as watchdog to monitor the state's stewardship of Warren Dunes and Warren Woods parks. Read More

Heart of the Lakes Announces New Program: Envision MI Lands

June 10, 2010 - Heart of the Lakes has launched a bold new program, Envision MI Lands, that will strengthen Michigan land conservancies’ strategic conservation planning efforts and position them to better leverage funding opportunities and advocate for smart conservation policy and practice for private lands conservation. Read More

SPECIAL REPORT: Drilling for Dollars — Would we balance the budget with natural resources?

June 10, 2010 - The Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) held an oil and gas lease auction on May 4 that netted a record $178 million – almost eight times the previous record of $23.6 million in 1981. The state leased 118,117 acres in 22 counties, something for which it can probably thank Canadian-based Encana. Read More

NWCC Releases Fact Sheet, Wind Turbine Interactions with Birds, Bats, and their Habitats

June 4, 2010 - NWCC Wildlife Workgroup releases a fact sheet that summarizes what is known about bird and bat interactions with land-based wind power in North America. Read More

ACE Hosts First Ever Statewide MI Land Conservancy Board Member Networking Event

May 17, 2010 - When four board members from three land conservancies decided to get together as part of the ACE Peer-to-Peer program, they extended an invitation across the state, resulting in the first ever statewide networking event explicitly for board members of Michigan land conservancies. Read More

USDA Announces Additional Funding for Three Conservation Programs

May 11, 2010 - Added Funds to Help Farmers, Ranchers and Landowners Protect Agricultural and Forest Land Read More

Bids Fuel Speculation on Mich. Drilling Boom

May 5, 2010 - Michigan's gas and oil industry entered a new era Tuesday with a record-setting auction that will be a windfall to the state's land trust fund and could signal a boom in drilling across the northern Lower Peninsula. Read More

Kalamazoo Co. Residents Honored for Donating the State's Largest Agricultural Conservation Ease

April 30, 2010 - Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) officials honored Rob and Regina Richardson of Kalamazoo County for donating their development rights of 906 acres - the largest donation to the state. Read More

Peninsula Township’s Farmland Preservation Program in Top Ten

April 28, 2010 - Peninsula Township (Grand Traverse County) was showcased as one of ten “Trailblazers” in farmland preservation in the Spring 2010 American Farmland, the quarterly magazine of the American Farmland Trust Read More

Conservancy Partnerships Receive Restoration Funding

April 28, 2010 - Several Heart of the Lakes member conservancies and their partners will receive major funding for habitat restoration and removal of invasive species in grant awards recently announced by the “Sustain Our Great Lakes” program. Read More

HOL Executive Director to speak at Michigan Land Use and Prosperity Summit

April 23, 2010 - Executive Director, Rachel Kuntzsch will address Michigan's leaders and citizens on April 23rd at the Michigan Land Use & Prosperity Summit. Read More

NOAA Grants $4.7 Million for Great Lakes Shoreline Sites

March 30, 2010 - Michigan DNRE received word from NOAA that two key Great Lakes shorline protection projects in Michigan will receive a total of $4.7 million in funding through NOAA's Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) Read More

Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy in Healing Garden Journal

March 30, 2010 - Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy included as cover story of March/April Healing Garden Journal Read More

J.A. Woollam Foundation Pledges Support to Heart of the Lakes

March 8, 2010 - As part of their continued dedication to land conservation in Michigan, the J.A. Woollam Foundation committed support to Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy’s fundraising efforts and will match contributions raised over the next three years Read More

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

February 23, 2010 - Michigan and other land conservancies throughout the Great Lakes successfully made the case for permanent land acquisition and protection agreements as one restoration strategy in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative’s (GLRI) Action Plan. Read More

Michigan Conservancies Reach Half Million Acre Mark!

February 23, 2010 - After tallying the numbers from the annual Heart of the Lakes Protected Acres Survey, we are pleased and excited to announce that our members, surpassed an all-time half million acres protected! As of December 31, 2009 our member land conservancies have protected a total of 509,125 acres of natural, scenic and working farms and forest lands throughout Michigan. Read More

New member of Heart of the Lakes: Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy

January 25, 2010 - Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy welcomes the Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy as our newest member organization. Read More

Sign Up for an ACE Webinar

January 25, 2010 - The Advancing Conservancy Excellence (ACE) program is pleased to offer an exceptional online training taught by noted conservation attorney Jane Ellen Hamilton. Read More

Megan Thomas, new ED of Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy

January 18, 2010 - The Michigan conservancy community welcomes Megan Thomas, the new Executive Director of Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy. Read More

Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant Applications Now Available

January 14, 2010 - Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant Applications Now Available DNR announced today that communities interested in applying for grants through the MNRTF to support outdoor recreation development have until April 1, 2010 to submit their applications. Read More

Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Applications Now Available

January 14, 2010 - DNR announced today that communities interested in applying for grants through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to support outdoor recreation development have until April 1, 2010 to submit their applications. Read More

DNRE Director Named, Transition Report Lays Framework for Streamlined Agency

January 13, 2010 - Governor Jennifer Granholm named DNR Director Rebecca Humphries director of the new Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE). Read More

Trust Fund Recommends $35.7 Million for Land and Recreation Projects

December 15, 2009 - The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund recently recommended $35.7 million for 67 land acquisition and recreation projects in 2010. Read More

Green Cemetary

November 20, 2009 - Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy recently announced a partnership with All Saints Cemetery in Waterford to create the first conservation-based natural burial ground in Michigan. Read More

The Little Forks Conservancy Applies for National Accreditation

November 20, 2009 - The Little Forks Conservancy recently submitted its application for accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, a program that recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural and working lands forever. Read More

The Conservation Fund in Michigan

November 20, 2009 - The Conservation Fund is working in Michigan and recent projects including the protection of five miles along the U.P.’s Sturgeon River, work with other partners to add 118 acres to the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge near Saginaw, and assistance to the Leelanau Conservancy to add 51 acres to the Leelanau State Park. Read More

Two-Part Television Series Features Land Conservation

November 20, 2009 - “Michigan Land Conservation”, a new television series produced by WCMU public television, premiered last month with moving stories of landowners who worked with several conservancies to permanently protect the land they love. Read More

Michigan Farm Bureau Features Leelanau’s FarmAbility Program

November 15, 2009 - Leelanau Conservancy’s FarmAbility program is highlighted in Michigan Farm, a statewide farm publication for members of the Michigan Farm Bureau Read More

Three Michigan Land Conservancies Accepted into Advancement Program

October 27, 2009 - Congratulations Cadillac Area Land Conservancy, HeadWaters Land Conservancy, and the Land Conservancy of West Michigan! Read More

Chikaming Celebrates 10 Years

October 23, 2009 - This October marks the tenth anniversary of Chikaming Open Lands Read More

Survey of Important Southeast Michigan Properties

October 21, 2009 - The Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy is requesting help in identifying important properties in the 7-county southeast Michigan region Read More

Conservation Partnership Reaches Agreement for Significant Coastal Site

October 20, 2009 - City of Saugatuck, Land Conservancy of West Michigan and The Nature Conservancy reached a major agreement to aquire 171-acre portion of land Read More

Campaign to Expand Meinert Park

September 10, 2009 - The Land Conservancy of West Michigan and Muskegon County are partners in a campaign to double the size of Meinert County Park on the shores of Lake Michigan. Read More

Leelanau Conservancy in Ladies Home Journal

September 10, 2009 - A touching story highlights the work of The Leelanau Conservancy in the September issue of Ladies Home Journal. Read More

New Keweenaw Guide

September 10, 2009 - The Michigan Nature Association published a new guidebook which describes 22 sanctuaries and preserves in Houghton and Keweenaw Counties. Read More

Detroit Free Press OpEd on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

September 10, 2009 - An opinion piece by Rich Bowman, Michigan Director of Government Relations for The Nature Conservancy, calls for Great Lakes restoration. Read More

Plea for Parks in SmartMoney Magazine

August 1, 2009 - Kirt Manecke, founder of Heart of the Lakes Associate Member LandChoices, responds in the August 2009 issue to a SmartMoney magazine article which stated, “Frankly, there are just too many parks.” Read More